9th Mile, Khanapara, Ri Bhoi, 28 February 2018:
The Ministry of Science and Technology has come
up with large scale opportunities to fund
innovative research projects at different levels
to universities, colleges as well as to
individual researchers for the progress of
scientific research in the country. This was
stated here today by Dr Amitava Roy, Scientist-F
from Department of Science & Technology,
Government of India. Dr Roy was at the
University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya to
address the students and the scientific
community on the occasion of National Science
Day. He also took part in the Science Exhibition
with the theme “Science and Technology for a
Sustainable Future”and encouraged the students
through meaningful interactions.

Delivering the Keynote Address at a conference
in USTM, Dr Amitava Roy said that a considerable
number of programmes have been undertaken by the
government while several have been announced
recently for funding. Giving a power point
presentation, he said that the Science
Engineering Research Board (SERB) is an
autonomous body for funding research and it has
started operation recently. “The Technology
innovation policy for societal movement was
initiated in 2013 and now the Government is
emphasizing on sustainable inclusive growth
through different policies.

In his detailed presentation, Dr Roy stated that
research proposals coming from rural areas,
especially from the north-eastern region is very
less. Only 23 projects from Assam, one from
Arunachal Pradesh, two from Tripura, one from
Nagaland, four projects from Mizoram, two from
Meghalaya and three projects from Manipur were
sanctioned by SERB during 2010-2017, he added.
He explained on how to write proposals, what the
funding authorities expect in a proposal, adding
that researchers or institutions should also try
to get fund from industries apart from the
Government.

Altogether 1000 students from USTM and RIST were
engaged in the science exhibition. All the
faculty members took serious initiative to guide
the students to present innovative models in the
mega science exhibition. The departments of
Physics and Applied Biology took the lead to
organise the event. The sub themes of the
science exhibition were: a) Renewable Energy,
Power Conservation and Management, b) Low cost
housing, environment safety and Waste
management, c) Education and Social Development,
d) Food, agriculture and Health, e) IT Enabled
services, Technology and Sustainable
Development.